The verb to put · Conjugation
Past Simple of put
The answer: put
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to put is put.
Example: I put my keys on the table.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | put |
| You | put |
| He / She / It | put |
| We | put |
| You (pl.) | put |
| They | put |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Putted ❌
Put → put → put: the three forms are the same. It is like cut, hit, hurt, let, set and shut. Say I put my bag down, never I putted my bag down.
2. Puting ❌
CVC rule: put → putting, with two t's.
3. Many phrasal verbs with put
Put on (to dress in clothes), put off (to move to a later time), put up with (to accept something bad), put away (to put back in its place), put out (to stop a fire). Learn them one by one.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of put?+
The Past Simple of put is put, the same as the base form. The past participle is also put. All three forms are the same: put → put → put.
Is putted correct?+
No. Put never changes and has no -ed form. It is in the same family as cut, hit, hurt, let, set and shut. Yesterday I put my keys on the table.
Why is putting spelled with two t's?+
Put follows the CVC rule (consonant, vowel, consonant): the final consonant doubles before -ing. Put → putting.
How do you know if put is present or past?+
Look at the subject and the time words. Present: I put, he puts (with -s). Past: I put my keys here yesterday, he put (no -s). A time word like yesterday is the best clue.
What is the difference between put and place?+
Put is the general, everyday word: I put the book on the table. Place is more formal and means you do it carefully: She placed the vase carefully on the shelf.
Related pages: put Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/put/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to put are coming soon.